YOU often can tell just how much a player means to a coach after a loss. Catch the leader of a program off a big win, and sure, the compliments will often flow from the leading scorer all the way down to the team manager.

But catch a coach after a tough defeat, and who knows. There might not be anyone who gets the passionate praise.

But Al Skinner is different .â.â. or was at least different Nov. 26 at Madison Square Garden. It was there, on Thanksgiving eve after Boston College lost a 71-64 gut-wrencher to Purdue in the Preseason NIT semifinals, that the serene, sincere Eagles frontman decided to put the loss behind him.

He was asked about his developing sophomore forward, Corey Raji. He paused, gave it some thought, and let loose.

“I’m very happy with his progress, and the improvements that he’s made from last season. He really brings us a constant effort, a consistent energy on this team, and his defensive intensity is always there,” Skinner said. “At this point, we have a good feel for what he’s going to give night in, and night out. And when you can – through your work – allow a coach to feel that way, that makes you very valuable to your team.”

The numbers back up Skinner. Raji, a 6-foot-6, 214-pound native of Washington Township, N.J., has started all nine games for the Eagles, averaging 29.8 minutes. He’s third on the team with a 12.1 scoring average, and pulls down 5.7 rebounds a game.

“I feel a whole lot more prepared this year. I played a lot last year, but I was learning, and I just didn’t have the experience that the other guys had,” said Raji, whose parents are ministers at a Harlem church. “But this year, we’ve got guys younger than me, and I’m just trying to be a role model for them. I know they’re looking up to me. By me working hard, they’ll work hard, and that’s what you need to win games.”

The Eagles are on their way. Boston College, which took third place in the Preseason NIT, is 7-2. And with winnable games on the holiday horizon, it appears they should enter ACC play vs. No. 1 North Carolina on Jan. 4, with double-digit victories.

“When you talk about us, you know, we’re not getting the McDonald’s All-Americans to play for us,” Skinner said. “We’re getting some guys that want to compete at this level, and who are willing to work at it, and get themselves better. That’s what Corey’s doing. He’s challenging himself, trying to get himself better. Hopefully, that continues.”

It certainly helps to get a family push every now and again, and that’s certainly the case for Raji. His brother B.J. is a standout defensive lineman for the Eagles. After BC plays Vanderbilt in the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl, the senior will head for the NFL, where he likely will be a first-round pick.

“It’s been good with him up there, he’s been a role model for me,” Corey said of his brother, who already could be playing on Sundays had it not been for a decision to stay in Chestnut Hill a few more semesters. “I’ve had two years with him now, and that’s longer than I thought.”

Corey, on the other hand, does have years left. And he has big plans for all of them.

“I just have to go out there and do whatever my team needs me to do, to win games,” he said. “If you need me to go out there and shoot 100 shots, I will. You want me to go out there and play defense and rebound, I’ll do it. That’s my goal, to help the team any way possible.”

Skinner notices .â.â. obviously.

“He’s going to get us some rebounds, he’s going to handle the ball, and he’s going to play good defense,” he said. “I’m very pleased with his consistency. He’s become one of the cornerstones that you can depend on.”